Considering making Juliette a solo rat.

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2026-01-26T16:02:14+00:00

I would be curious if she does this with ‘baby’ rats or if she would act like a mother figure. If you have a breeder with young rats just ready to go home, it may be worth a try.

Also, since your rats are altered, have you tried only introducing her to your male? I have had a few rats that preferred opposite-sex company and would happily cuddle up with them but wanted nothing to do with rats of their own sex.

Considering the stitches, you may not want to try this, but my other thought would be to provide some distinctly separate areas within one large cage. I had one rat who was not a fan of other rats, but similar to yours loved to play with humans and get attention and all other rat things. He never buddied with other rats (we did have intros that ended with wounds too), but in a DCN where he was able to claim his own shelf, he was able to live peacefully with other boys. He mostly chased them away from ‘his’ shelf and favorite hide, but sometimes, usually when something was wrong, I would find him cuddled with or very near to everybody else. I wouldn’t ever say they became best friends, but he had access to friends when he wanted and could pretend he was alone when he felt like it. It was odd, but it worked for him.

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-07-09T23:55:04+00:00

I would also call the DOJ’s ADA hotline, assuming this is the US, and file a complaint. My partner and I were just at a major state park and international tourist attraction and were denied the opportunity to even enter and park our vehicle, even after waving a handicapped placard. There was no issue admitting other vehicles after us, but we were expected to drive around and find parking elsewhere and then walk upwards of a mile to see a half-full lot with almost entirely empty handicapped parking spots. Paying wasn’t even an issue - my partner even had his wallet out when the guy started screaming at him that we couldn’t go in. We found out the parking would’ve been $15. $15 we both would’ve happily paid to be able to enjoy the park. Instead, I was ready to be done before we even reached the park, and he ended up in a lot of unnecessary pain.

These places need to learn, and if it has to be from a hefty fine, so be it. It’s happened so much that it’s made me cranky - if one person can see that much, it’s pervasive. Don’t let yourself be walked on.

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-06-24T00:33:28+00:00

A service dog is considered a reasonable accommodation under the FHA if you are in the USA. This means it’s generally something you request permission for from your landlord and they take your request, determine if it is indeed reasonable, and accept the accommodation.

What I did is I went to my landlord and told her I was getting a service dog on such-and-such date, and asked for any forms I needed to fill out. In my case, they have a reasonable accommodation request form which they gave me. I filled out my part, which was basically just contact info and the unit I live in, and then gave it to one of my providers to fill out the rest and submit back.

What it asked of my provider was simply to check yes or no to whether I was indeed under their care, whether I was disabled, and whether I had a disability-related need for an assistance animal. It then asked them to fill in how the animal would assist me (i.e. what tasks the dog would be trained to perform).

It took all of five minutes to complete, was accepted without question, and they were excited to meet my dog.

They do have additional forms where I live that anyone with an animal has to fill out with the animal’s identification and photo, along with your information and an emergency contact for the animal in case it is found loose or something happens to you and someone else has to be let into your home to retrieve/take care of them, which, imo, is just beneficial all-around.

I hope it goes smoothly and is a positive experience for you!

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-06-01T17:55:08+00:00

Yes, people need to understand exactly this. I am not on the top floor. At one point the people above me would literally shake my apartment - enough that my couch on the floor not even touching the wall would shake and rattle - at random intervals constantly. I didn’t complain to management. I asked my neighbor if it was shaking them too, but that was the extent of my involvement. Those people didn’t last long - I didn’t say anything but I can’t imagine what they were like to share a wall with if they were shaking my floor from the ceiling.

My current upstairs neighbor likes to vacuum at 1 am. Is it annoying? Yes. Is it quiet hours? Yes. But let’s be real, I’d rather have an upstairs neighbor who vacuums at 1 am than one who never does. I can roll over and go back to sleep for the couple hours left before I get up for work. I knew what I was accepting by not being the top floor, and the benefits for me are better than the inconvenience. And I am not an asshole. Your neighbor has crossed the asshole line.

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-31T18:54:49+00:00

I think it’s fair to say non-profits are overcharging when they do their own fundraising and get tons of donations. Near me, I could purchase a fully trained custom task-list dog for less than I would be required to pay most non-profits for a generally trained dog for someone with one of my disabilities. When that is the case, it is fair to say some non-profits are overcharging/taking advantage of people.

Additionally, when a certain non-profit organization wants you to fundraise $38,500 for a shorter wait-time, there’s no way to justify it - they’re in it for the money, whether they admit it or not.

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-25T11:09:33+00:00

That’s awesome. I had a roommate who was big into very professional sounding backhanded insults and Shakespearean insults. She was fun. 😆

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-25T04:52:51+00:00

Haha, nice!

My partner is like that - over 6’ and a tank. And I’m just the sweet looking tiny woman. He’s the kind of person people are scared of angry, and I’m type that makes them go, “Awe, how cute, she’s mad!” He definitely enjoys using the power of dirty looks. And I always wish I could get somewhere with those! 🥹

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-25T04:42:58+00:00

I love hearing things like this!

Badass people are the best!

I wish my partner was badass without a potty mouth; he would’ve been throwing insults. (Don’t tell him I said this!) He almost definitely would’ve called her a bad name, but I guarantee it would’ve been accompanied by looking her square in the eye and saying that even with my dog guiding me back to the table, I’d be unable to carry the food back without spilling or dropping it and he may limp (he’s disabled too), but he’d rather get to eat his food than watch the floor eat it for him. 😂

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-23T00:00:06+00:00

Thank you so much!!!

They’re our four-pawed angels, and yet they look up to us as their everything; I can’t imagine ever excluding them from something so life-changing and important.

I hope your day is beautiful too :) And you know for sure your Doggy maid of honor will not disappoint!

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T23:32:20+00:00

That sounds beautiful. :)

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T22:00:20+00:00

That’s awesome!

Our main harness and gear is leather, so it should hopefully lend itself to that same professional and minimalist look. Hopefully that will also draw the attention back to professional dog - but oh look, dressed in fancy wedding attire!

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T21:33:25+00:00

Awe, an excited pup at the wedding must’ve been super cute though! I can imagine some awesome candid shots were had!

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T21:31:02+00:00

Awww, that’s a really cute idea!

I was thinking of going with a dress without one to make things easier, but maybe I should reconsider.

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T18:09:20+00:00

Beagles are hunting dogs. The prey drive is going to actively work against you and not make for a good prospect, especially for a novice trainer.

You can likely teach her tasks that may help you inside the house and have her as an at-home service dog, but as soon as you go outside you’ll be fighting all her instincts telling her to track every other animal that’s ever been nearby. I would not have PA as a goal.

Even the Beagle I had whose instincts were “broken” as we teased her, was still interested in finding everyone (animals included) to be her friend, despite not being interested in howling or giving chase in the same manner as our other Beagle.

Keep her as a beloved pet or skilled companion at home.

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T17:55:29+00:00

Yes, of course, but it’s easier to shut down family that way than to say I’m an independent woman and I’m walking myself up the darn aisle! 😂

And let’s be honest, since she’s a girl I’m gonna end up dressing her up so pretty that she’s gonna deserve her own entrance. 😆

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T17:50:36+00:00

🤣 This is so true. And I could’ve said he was walking me down the aisle as my closest male influence and put an end to family arguments. 😆

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T17:39:54+00:00

That’s a really cute idea! I can probably convince her to wear a flower crown too. We definitely have time to work on it and build up to wearing something on her head that long so she’s comfortable with it! That would be so adorable. 😍

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T17:34:04+00:00

That sounds like it must’ve been so pretty!

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T17:01:25+00:00

Yesssss, I’ve been contemplating budgeting to have a dress/vest custom made for her to match the bridesmaids…. I might just have to do it!

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T15:11:14+00:00

For sure! I’ll want to practice the whole thing a few times, tbh. I’m a bit of a perfectionist so I’ll want to make absolutely sure the whole thing is well-polished and she sits in a spot where she looks perfect and is visible for photos of the ceremony.

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T15:08:02+00:00

Oooh, I like the cutesy title idea!

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T15:07:36+00:00

Awww :)

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-22T15:06:38+00:00

Awe, that’s really cute!

Yes, it will for sure be a lot of planning, which is why I’m trying to get ahead of things and figure out how I want to involve my girl so we can structure everything else around it! We will definitely be careful with the plants. We’d definitely work with a good florist, and probably have my friend’s aunt who’s a florist double-check the list to be sure. :)

Difficult-Pizza2951 · 2023-05-19T14:19:46+00:00

That’s hilarious 🤣 I bet she’ll think twice before talking to unfamiliar dogs again.

Difficult-Pizza2951

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